one of the best decisions I made in college Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 06/13/2018 to 08/12/2018 with
CET Shanghai
I made friends in China. improved my speaking ability. And really had a chance to meet people of different backgrounds.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
the course materials are not difficult, but it was more than I expected to have. the readings are long, and you will need to invest a decent amount of time into it. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The entire CET Shanghai staff is amazing. They are so good at their jobs, recommend things to do, and be there for you whenever you run into problems. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The Chinese local roommate system is great and you get to live in one of the few dorms that have A/C. |
| * Food: |
the school cafeteria food is great, much better than the US college food. Also, they are super cheap, so it doesn't break your bank. There are many affordable and tasty options near the campus too. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There are not as much chances to get involved with the other Chinese students on campus, since the program is in the summer. But, you do get a Chinese local roommate who will get very close to. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The insurance that you will get while abroad is extensive. If you do not feel well, there are English speaking hospitals that you can go to. |
| * Safety: |
Shanghai is so, so safe. the campus has guards at every gate. I never felt like I was in danger, even when I was in the city late at night. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I got to know amazing people from all around US and China. The people that I was with definitely made the experience even better! |
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
It really depends on what your spending habit is like. But if you are on a budget, you can totally make it through the summer without a problem. There are so many affordable options for food! (less than $2 for breakfast) |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | around $100~150 (traveling expenses included) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | eat at school cafeteria if you are on a tight budget. shop on taboo for clothes and etc. drinking at bars really adds up. (there are a lot of deals though) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
you have Chinese class every day. you have your roommate who you can speak Chinese with. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Chin 20b |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Just keep talking, even if you make mistakes. listen a lot. listen to people talking and try to catch words and phrases that you know. increase exposure to the language! |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | internship experience comes with a class that you have to attend. you can choose to drop the course, but still do the internship. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
